Daniel Baker: FlightAware CEO

10/31/17 • 76 min

Pilot to Pilot - Aviation Podcast

FlightAware CEO Daniel Baker shares why he created FlightAware and why he became a pilot.

FlightAware CEO Daniel Baker shares why he created FlightAware and why he became a pilot.

Previous Episode

James Heath: Pilot Turned ATC

Pilot to Pilot podcast ep 022 ft James Heath: Pilot turned ATC.

What is going on Avination, Welcome back to the Pilot to Pilot podcast, today I am talking with aviation journeyman James Heath. James is a former CFI, airline ground handler, 2x regional pilot and current air traffic controller. In today's episode we talk about.

How a movie led him to aviation.
How the book Contact led him down the path to find ET.
How a young Eagle flight with the EAA at age 9 was one of the coolest and most terrifying things he has done.
James was making more money playing more money playing online poker than his part-time jobs.
How his mom saying no to dropping out of college for online poker led him to take aviation classes.
James was hooked from his first flight at Illinois.
Changed his major 2 years into college.
Which in turn gave him put him on the 6-year plan.
James’s mom made him call her before and after every flight.
How James graduated in one of the worst times in aviation.
Why he chose to become a flight instructor in Arizona over Illinois.
What it was like teaching all foreign students.
What made James think about becoming an Air Traffic Controller.
What really sold him on ATC.
Applied in ATC July 2009 (terrible time to apply for ATC).
Why he left being a CFI and became a ground handler.
How to he ended up flying caravans for the company he was a ground handler for.
We talk about what it is like flying a Caravan into the busiest airports in the US.
Why he chose the to fly for the regionals.
How he chose between the different regionals at the time.
What it was like flying at the regionals.
How he ended up switching regionals.
How the plans you make rarely work out in this industry.
Why it is important to have a backup plan.
When he finally got the call from ATC.
How ATC hires.
Why James decided to walk away from flying to become a controller.
We talk In detail about what the process is to become an ATC.
How the training to become an Air Traffic Controller is a very long process.
It took him 25 months to become fully certified.
A time where Washington Center told me I shouldn’t be flying tonight.
Why he likes working low sectors.

Avination, thank you for listening to today's episode. If you enjoyed it, please let me know! Email me at [email protected] or reach out on Instagram @pilottopilot. Happy Flying, Justin Don't forget about our Patreon giveaway to find out more information click the link below!

Next Episode

Logan Flood: Plane Crash Survivor & Regional Airline Captain

PILOT TO PILOT PODCAST EP 024 FT. LOGAN FLOOD: REGIONAL AIRLINE PILOT & PLANE CRASH SURVIVOR

What is going on Avination?!

Today, I am talking with Logan Flood. Logan is a current regional airline captain, flying out of everyone's favorite Laguardia airport. Logan has overcome an incredible amount of adversity and disabilities to get to where he is today. If you would like to read more about Logan and his accident check out this article "No One Would Ever Hire Me"

Some of the things we talk about in this episode are.

His dream was to be a starship cargo pilot.
Star Wars helped him find his love for aviation.
We talk about his hometown in Nebraska.
How he thought the only way to become a pilot was by going to the Air Force.
Talked about how Flight Sim helped Logan get familiar with flying.
How working at Sears led him to finding out he can be a pilot with poor vision.
How his high school teacher got him an internship at a local FBO.
How he quit Sears as soon as he realized he could work at the airport.
How Logan chose what College to go to.
How he saved money in college.
Logan was renting airplanes for $50 with the instructor fee.
How he started his flying career.
How Logan's connections helped him get his first job.
Why it is important to have a mentor in your career.
Why its all about networking.
How regionals used to require 2,000 TT.
We talk about how he built his time.
Logan goes into detail about what happened with his accident.
We talk about the extent of his injuries
How long it took him to recover.
How he was able to get his license back.
What it was like dealing with the FAA.
How he was able to help a paralyzed student reach his dream of becoming a pilot.
Why he thought he could never fly for the airlines.
How he overcomes his disability,
Why he wants to stay at Republic his whole career.
How Logan was able to stay positive in such a horrific accident.

Avination, thank you for listening to today's episode. If you enjoyed it, please let me know! Email me at [email protected] or reach out to me on Instagram @pilottopilot.

Happy Flying,

Justin